What Makes a Recipe “Healthy”?

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Heart healthy. High-fiber. Low-carb. In the never-ending quest to “eat healthy,” a lot of terms get bounced around—but what exactly do they mean? To stick to a more healthful diet you need to know how to evaluate the nutrition facts on your recipes and packaged food labels. Keep in mind that "healthy" guidelines are not standardized across organizations: different groups may have different points of view.

Healthy recipes defined

The following guidelines for evaluating the health impact of Aisle7 recipes was developed with a nutritionist and other health professionals. Our heart-healthy criteria are based on the American Heart Association's recommendations. Generally, we judge a recipe "healthy" when it meets the recommended daily nutritional amounts per serving as defined below for a typical 2,000 calorie diet.

Cholesterol: Less than 300 mg per day

Total carbohydrate: No more than 300 grams per day

Fiber: At least 25 grams per day

Sodium: No more than 2,400 mg per day

Potassium: At least 3,500 mg per day

Protein: No more than 50 grams per day

Total fat: No more than 65 grams per day

Saturated fat: No more than 20 grams per day

Trans fats: Trans fatty acids occur naturally in meat and dairy products in small amounts but are created artificially when oils are partially hydrogenated to increase the shelf life of packaged products. High trans fat intake has been associated with increased heart disease risk. Avoid transfats whenever possible, particularly those from partially hydrogenated oils, and limit your overall intake to less than 1% of your daily calories.

Other recipe categories

High-Fiber: At least 5 grams per serving

Low-Carb: 35% or fewer calories from carbohydrates

Low-Sodium: 140 mg or less per serving

Low-Fat: 3 grams or less per serving and less than 30% of calories from fat

Heart Healthy: 3 grams or less total fat, 1 gram or less saturated fat, 20 mg or less cholesterol, 480 mg or less sodium, 10% of one of the following: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, or dietary fiber

Low-Sugar: 5 grams or less per serving

Low-Glycemic Index: Complex definition requiring other information

Gluten-Free: No wheat, barley, rye, spelt, or processed oats

Quick & Easy: 30 minutes or less to prep and cook; six or fewer ingredients

Kid-Friendly: Healthy, well-rounded nutrition; easy to make and eat; not for a complex palette

Budget-Friendly: Meals for less than $3 per serving. Ingredient costs reflect the national average and may fluctuate by region and retailer.

Diabetes-Friendly: Follows complex healthy eating guidelines that do not apply to all people with diabetes.